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WOODBRIDGE COLLEGE COURSE CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 2009- JUNE 2010
71 Bruce Street, WOODBRIDGE, Ontario. L4L 1J3 (905)851-2843 Woodbridge College Website: www.woodbridgecollege.yrdsb.edu.on.ca Guidance Services Website: Guidance Services
PRINCIPAL Mrs. Debra Conrad-Knight
VICE PRINCIPAL Mr. Paolo Burzese
SCHOOL COUNCIL CHAIR Mr. Christopher Armour
HEAD OF GUIDANCE AND CAREER EDUCATION Mrs. Patricia Neally OUR MISSION Our focus at Woodbridge College is the development of each student's potential to become successful and contributing members of the school and the community. Teachers, parents and administrators work together as a team with students in this dynamic process.
We foster a climate of respect and positive relationships among staff and students. All members of the Woodbridge College community have a right to be treated fairly and with respect regardless of the individual's language, culture, faith and gender.
Woodbridge College is a community school that serves students in grades 9 - 12. There are high expectations with regard to student behaviour and academic achievement. These expectations are reflected in our school motto: "EXCELLENCE THROUGH COMMITMENT"
SCHOOL WEBSITE - www.woodbridgecollege.yrdsb.edu.on.ca
Our school's website is user friendly and provides excellent information for parents, students and staff. Please check it regularly for important dates, school events, literacy and homework supports.
REPORTING Continuous evaluation is a feature of all courses at Woodbridge College. At the beginning of each course, students receive an outline of the course evaluation from the teacher. Student progress is formally reported to parents at mid-semester (November and April) and at the end of semester (January and June). Formal parent-teacher conferences occur before the distribution of mid-semester reports. Home contact occurs when appropriate and where additional support is required.
STUDENT SUCCESS We believe that student success is a shared responsibility between students, teachers and parents. All partners must work together to foster the intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth of the students. The Student Agenda outlines expectations for students, parents and teachers. Student Success takes place in room 112. Students are able to complete incomplete tests or assignments under teacher supervision. Room 112 is also available at lunchtime for the Homework Club. All students are encouraged to attend.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES Students requiring Special Education support are formally identified through the IPRC process. "A Parent Guide to the IPRC Process" is available at the school. Our goal is to help all exceptional students to succeed and to achieve their full potential. We offer both academic and emotional support to students by acting as a liaison with parents/guardians, classroom teachers and support personnel.
Programs are designed to provide support for exceptional students and to encourage them to become independent learners with a positive self-image. We offer a variety of placements to meet the needs of exceptional students as determined by the IPRC such as; regular classes with monitoring support, regular classes with resource support, regular classes with withdrawal support in the form of Learning Strategies and a partially self-contained Intensive Support Program.
The Intensive Support Program is based on Ministry curriculum guidelines and identifies the learning expectations that are modified from or alternative to the expectations for the appropriate grade and subject or course, and/or accommodations and special education services needed to assist the student in achieving his/her learning expectations. This non-credit program focuses on integration, literacy and numeracy skills, personal management skills, advocacy, problem solving and critical thinking skills, through an individualized program. Students are involved in authentic experiential learning opportunities that may include job shadowing, job twinning and community based work experience opportunities.
For further details, please see a member of the Special Education Department.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM (AP) This year Woodbridge College will be offering Advancement Placement courses in grade 12 English and Biology. Advanced Placement courses give students advanced placement in their first year university courses. Equivalency credits in first year university courses may be given for Advanced Placement courses offered in high school.
AP courses involve completion of examinations beyond the regular Grade 12 course content and exam, and are set by the College Entrance Board in New Jersey, U.S.A. These courses are designed to provide students with background and knowledge equivalent to a first-year university course. They allow students the opportunity for enriched, intensive study in one or more subjects of interest and strength. AP courses are recognized by many Canadian and International universities as advanced standing for first-year study in specific courses. They are offered in each of the four Community Education Centre areas within York Region. Contact Guidance Services in your secondary school for further information. More detailed information about application to the programs will be made available to parents and students in January.
LIBRARY RESOURCE CENTRE The Library Resource Centre has an extensive collection of print, non-print and electronic resources. These include fiction and non-fiction books, magazines, videos, CD-ROMs, Internet and online databases. Twenty-nine computers and a coin-operated photocopier are available for student use. Students are welcome in the Resource Centre every school day from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Students benefit from using the Library Resource Centre in a number of ways. They have the opportunity to: - Borrow materials for research and recreational reading
- Make effective use of print and electronic resources
- Extend their learning through research, quiet study, reading and appropriate use of technology
- Develop critical thinking and research skills
- Gain insights into the world of literature and the pleasure of reading
- Receive individualized assistance in information technology
- Students are invited to participate in the Library, Book and Scrabble Clubs
GUIDANCE AND CAREER EDUCATION Guidance and Career Education plays a central role in high school by preparing students for a complex and changing world. Students set goals for post-secondary education and work and develop knowledge and skills needed to achieve their goals. At the same time, they develop employability skills that will help them find or create work and succeed on the job.
Students must learn and develop skills at school that will help them become more independent and responsible individuals. They must be able to apply what they learn in school to other areas of their lives.
The Guidance and Career Education Department assists students to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes to make effective decisions. The Guidance and Career Education Department offers assistance to students, parents and the community with a variety of programs. Both individual and group counselling are integral parts of Guidance Services. Types of counselling include: career pathways and educational planning; life skills development, such as decision-making, problem solving and conflict management; exploration of personal issues; study skills/time management/exam preparation techniques; interpersonal relationships facilitation and general personal counselling.
The goals of the Guidance and Career Education program are that students: understand the concepts related to lifelong learning, interpersonal relationships (including responsible citizenship) and career planning; develop learning skills, social skills, a sense of social responsibility and the ability to formulate and pursue educational and career goals to then be able to apply this learning to their lives and work in the school and community.
Career Planning is a key component of the program. Counsellors assist with: - Career pathways and destinations
- Course selections and revisions
- Summer, night school and virtual schooling registrations (WHERE APPROPRIATE)
- Academic and educational counselling
- Maintaining a list of student and professional tutors
- Class seminars and/or information assemblies and tutorials
- Bulletin Boards for upcoming events, pathways information, etc.
- Tutorial sessions for the on-line college and university application forms
- Graduation Requirement information assemblies
- Parent Night Information sessions
- Personal Counselling
Students, parents and teachers are able to quickly access general information about high school and specific information about career education, colleges, apprenticeships, the workplace, university and other alternatives through the "Guidance Services" York Region website at: www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca - then click onto "Schools" , then "Programs" and then "Guidance Services" This is our most comprehensive resource available. Be sure to use it regularly! Two other excellent Pathways Planning websites are: www.myblueprint.ca - Activation Code is: wyverns1 www.careercruising.ca - Username: yorkregion Password: 51000
UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS Students should consult the course calendars of post-secondary institutions and attend in-school workshops to make sure that their secondary school course selections meet with post-secondary requirements. Students should see a counsellor and use the above websites to assist in their Pathways planning.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS Students who are new to Canada participate in the whole school program and contribute to the multicultural diversity of Woodbridge College. Course and resource assistance for regular classes are available to ELL students to orient them to Canadian culture and to help them improve their English Skills.
CHANGING COURSE TYPES Students who wish to change course types, that is, from Applied to Academic or from Workplace to College or from College to University, must do a Transfer course during summer school. If the course is not available, then the student must first complete the prerequisite course before taking the new course. Guidance Counsellors can provide more information about these courses. Further information is also available in the York Region District School Board Course Calendar, available on line. (a hard copy has been provided to all grade 8 students). Selection of courses for the 2009 - 2010 school year is the responsibility of the student in consultation with his/her parents/guardians. Students are strongly encouraged to seek guidance with their selections from subject teachers, special education teachers and guidance counsellors.
Factors to consider when selecting courses include: - career goals of the student
- pathway or destination considerations of the student
- abilities and interests of the student
- diploma requirements for graduation
- prerequisites for entrance to post secondary institutions, apprenticeships/trades or the workplace
COURSE SELECTION AND COURSE CHANGE POLICY
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO STUDENTS: It is our belief that students after discussions with parents, teachers and counsellors, should assume responsibility for making careful educational decisions about courses they select in the spring. These are the courses students are expected to attend during the school year. Once classes begin in September, course transfers and changes will be considered only in extraordinary circumstances and only if space permits. Therefore, you are expected to take care in the preparation of your educational plan in the spring. Courses will not be offered unless there is sufficient enrolment to support the program at the time of course selection. THEREFORE, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE BOTH TIME AND CARE IN THE PREPARATION OF YOUR EDUCATIONAL PLAN.
Upon the successful completion of 24 credits, senior students may enrol in, and maintain a minimum of three (3) courses per semester. Changes in the level of difficulty will be considered on an individual basis but they MAY NOT be possible. –
THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT STUDENTS WILL TAKE A FULL COURSE LOAD OF EIGHT SUBJECTS IN GRADES 9 THROUGH 11 AND A MINIMUM OF SIX SUBJECTS IN GRADE 12.
COURSE SELECTION
Course selection is a very SERIOUS and IMPORTANT event and should be treated as such. Course selections affect course offerings for the following year. Timetabling and staffing are based on these selections and often it is impossible to change your selections in September.
For a full description of all courses, students and parents/guardians should refer to the YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD COURSE CALENDAR 2009 - 2010, which is available on the board website at http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca - Schools - Secondary - Course Calendar 2009/2010 or to the Ministry website - www.edu.gov.on.ca.
Students are encouraged to make their course selections based on their post-secondary Pathways Plan: employment, apprenticeship/trades, college or university. Students should continue to update their Annual Education Plan and their Educational Planner to assist their decisions and career planning.
Students are encouraged to consult with subject teachers, special education teachers and guidance counsellors to gain a clearer understanding of course expectations. This will help them to successfully navigate the course selection pathway through secondary school and prepare for their post-secondary opportunities. This will increase the ability to make appropriate course selection decisions.
COURSE SELECTION PROCESS
The courses offered at Woodbridge College have been developed according to the Ministry of Education guidelines. As most courses are sequential in nature, students are advised to complete recommended prerequisite courses. The selection of courses for the 2009-2010 school year is the responsibility of the student in consultation with their parents/guardians, teachers and counsellors. Students and parents/guardians should also refer to the YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD COURSE CALENDAR at www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca for a full description of all courses as well as other useful information about graduation requirements, flow charts for prerequisites, etc. The courses offered at Woodbridge College are listed below. PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ALL COURSES ARE OFFFERED AT ALL SCHOOLS. Students should review the prerequisites for all the programs they are considering.
Course selection forms are due to your homeroom teacher by MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2009.
Students are strongly encouraged to seek guidance with their selections from subject teachers, Guidance Counsellors, parents and the Special Education Department and make their selections based on their post secondary pathway decisions, i.e.: employment, apprenticeship/trades, college or university. Students should continue to update their Annual Education Plan (AEP) to assist their decisions, meet graduation requirements, achieve their educational goals, consider their abilities and interests and help in career planning.
Check the following websites (Guidance Services - www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca - Guidance. Services and www.myblueprint.ca)) for the latest and most comprehensive information concerning post secondary education, high school requirements, pathway opportunities, alternative education opportunities, etc.
Upon the successful completion of twenty-four credits, senior students must enrol in and maintain a minimum of three courses per semester. Full time students at Woodbridge College are encouraged to take the following minimum number of credits:
Grades 9 - 11: 8 courses per year Grade 12: 6 courses minimum (3 per semester)
The courses on the following pages will be offered at Woodbridge College. When selecting courses, please note the level and destination of each course and pay special attention to the prerequisite or recommended background. Also, please note any material costs and course fees charged.
Please see the Woodbridge College website for the Woodbridge College Course Calendar.
COURSE SELECTION FORMS ARE DUE TO YOUR HOMEROOM TEACHER NO LATER THAN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23 rd.
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